Automatic toilet deodorant spray mechanism

ABSTRACT

The present invention is to provide a convenient way of automatically dispensing deodorant spray out of a widely used air freshener spray can at every use of the toilet, thereby eliminating the need for looking for a air freshener. Moreover, this invention is a very hygienic way of using toilet and keep it automatically odor and germs free, for other to use. This simple automatic adjustable dispenser is mounted on the side of a flush tank and securely locked by means of a hand turning screw head. The placement is such that the variable actuator lever automatically depressed at every flush of the toilet. Any size of deodorant spray can is placed and adjusted once for it complete use.  
     This invention will bring ease and hygiene in our house-hold and other commercial applications by providing automatic elimination of odor causing germs and yet eliminating the need for looking for a spray can and also avoiding the use of hand that can very well transfer germs from person to person.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED ART

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/399,457 filed on Jul. 31, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to house-hold hygiene, and more particularly a toilet odor eliminating retrofit able apparatus.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] Various invention have attempted to resolve this toilet odor elimination apparatus, but none have been economical and practical from the user perspective. This present invention addresses, in particular, hygiene and time of the consumer, by creating untouchable-automatic deodorant spray at every use of the toilet flush.

[0006] The invention of Cain, Martin dated Jan. 28, 1999 U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,532 details a dispenser which fail to automatically dispense the deodorant, instead requires the user to press a knob to spray the freshener into the toilet bowl. This invention is not practical for the fact that user can instead press the knob of the spray can and spray the deodorant into the bowl. Furthermore, Cain's invention is has a very unhygienic way of delivering the spray mist into the bowl through a head placed on the bowl where it will accumulate with liquid and solid waste.

[0007] Yet another invention by Martin Robert F. and Batt Lawrence dated Oct. 14, 1997 uses toilet flush handle to electronically actuate the dispenser to spray deodorant. The use of switches and electrical system in the Martin's invention have made the apparatus very complicated and uneconomical to produce and market. Yet another problem with their invention is the hazard of electrical shock in a very wet environment of bathrooms. Whereas, in case of battery operated apparatus, the invention become burden on the user to keep track of battery life and also an extra expense.

[0008] There are other inventions which are inherently not functional or uneconomical or present more functional problems and more hygiene related issues, rather than making house-hold life more easy and very much up to hygiene.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention “Automatic toilet deodorant spray mechanism” is drawn to a simple yet economical retrofit able apparatus for user to install on any existing toilet flush tank. This dispenser can use any existing deodorant spray can to be installed once inside the dispenser to function automatically at every press of toilet flush tank handle. The principal object of this invention is to eliminate the need of looking for spray air-freshener by the user after the use of toilet. It is another object of this invention is to automatically spray the deodorant mist at every use of the flush tank in the toilet. It is a further object of the invention is to provide the user with away to use any type of air freshener spray can into this invented dispenser repeatedly. Yet it is another object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical and rugged automatic deodorant dispensing mechanism to be able to use with any existing toilet flush tank and also provide user with away to replace empty spray can with a new spray can.

[0010] The invented apparatus is an adjustable toilet flush tank mount dispenser. The placement of the dispenser on the side of the toilet flush tank is secured by means of the side grip and the dispenser is placed in such a manner that adjustable actuator lever falls under the toilet flush tank handle. The actuator lever can be adjusted to accommodate for different position, shape and size of flush handle.

[0011] A deodorant spray can is placed inside the dispenser and necessary adjustment for height, width and nozzle position are done once. At every flush of the toilet flush tank, the actuator lever is depressed automatically causing the deodorant to spray in the vicinity of the toilet

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invented dispenser mechanism with all, but not limited to, functional components. The shape of dispenser is shown only for the purpose of detail of functional components.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the clamping mechanism integrated with the dispenser in FIG. 1

[0014]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bottom latched door for filling deodorant spray can into the dispenser shown in FIG. 1

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser in FIG. 1 attached with a toilet flush tank for the intended purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

[0016] As best illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the “Automatic toilet deodorant spray mechanism” the present invention, is generally indicated as a perspective view of the invented mechanism in general, showing all the functional components in general.

[0017] The present invention “Automatic Toilet Deodorant spray mechanism” is comprises of eleven (11) functional components, in general.

[0018] Components #1, is a dispenser casing, preferable made of wire mesh coated with plastic or like substance, which holds the deodorant spray can in upward position, securely in position for its complete use.

[0019] Component #2, is a flush tank holding grip with a lock screw and rubber padding, is an integrated part of the components #1, having a general configuration shown in FIG. 2, such that it can be securely mounted on the side of any toilet flush tank.

[0020] Component #3, is a spray can thickness adjuster, in order to accommodate different type of deodorant spray can available in the consumer market. This horizontal adjuster is mounted on one side of the dispenser casing with the help of a hand moveable screw along with a padded curve plate. This component also provides a firm grip of the spray can.

[0021] Component #4, is a bottom fill door, hinged on the bottom part of the dispenser (component #1) as best illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. One side of the fill door is hinged on to the dispenser and one side is provided with a latch catch for the door to lock in a closed position into the receiving end of the latch.

[0022] Component #5, is a base plate set on hand moveable screw having a rubber padding placed on the fill door (component #4). This base plate can be moved up and down in order to accommodate spray can of different height. This base plate also provide a secure grip for the spray can

[0023] Component #6, is fixed arm pressure lever attached to the dispenser casing with a pin as best illustrated in FIG. 1. This fixed length pressure lever is provided with a slot along a portion of its length to accommodate an adjustable vertical pressing boot assembly.

[0024] Component #7, is a adjustable floating boot assembly, placed into the slot of the component #6, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. This assembly can be adjusted along the length of the fixed arm lever as well as in different depth in order to sit properly on the tab of the spray nozzle on the spray can.

[0025] Component #8, is a linear adjustable arm of the pressure lever integrated with component #6 as illustrated in FIG. 1. This adjustable arm can be slide in and out over the component #6 in order to provide adjustment of the lever arm to place itself as required for the operation. The position is secured and fixed with the help of a hand screw.

[0026] Component #9, is a radially adjustable arm of the pressure lever as illustrated in FIG. 1. This component is integrated on component #8 with a help of a hand tight screw, in order to position the pressure lever assembly under the toilet flush tank handle for proper operation. This radial arm of the lever assembly is provided with a rubber grip at the free end under the flush tank handle.

[0027] Component #10, is the receiver part of the latch assembly, integrated on the dispenser casing as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. This latch receiver is provide with a hand press lock release button, which when depressed will release the latch catch of the component #4.

[0028] Component #11, are vertical limiting tabs integrated on the upper inside rim of the dispenser casing as best illustrated in FIG. 1. These tabs will provide holding and limiting position for deodorant spray can, once it is loaded from the bottom of the dispenser assembly. 

I claim:
 1. A dispenser for deodorant spray can capable of clamping on the side of any toilet flush tank in such a manner that a variable pressure exerting lever is positioned under the toilet flush tank handle in a manner that the dispenser dispenses automatically the deodorant from the spray can which is installed in an upward position inside the dispenser at every flush of the toilet tank. The dispenser comprises of; A wire mesh enclosure capable of accommodating deodorant spray can of different thickness and height. A mechanism of locking a deodorant spray can of different height and thickness inside the dispenser. A mechanism of loading deodorant spray can from the bottom of the dispenser in upright position. An adjustable pressure boot which can be properly positioned over the tab of the nozzle of a deodorant spray can in a manner that it will actuate the spray out of the spray can at the depression of the toilet flush tank handle. A lever assembly which can be adjusted for linear length and radial position in a manner that at the depression of a toilet flush tank handle will actuate the lever to move downward.
 2. The dispenser according to claim #1 have following functional components, all integrated together in a manner that to deliver deodorant mist automatically at every flush of a toilet flushing action.
 3. The dispenser in claim #1 is integrated with a grip having a inverted “U” shape configuration along with padded plate and hand tightening screw in a manner that the dispenser in claim #1 is positioned securely at a desired position on the side of a toilet flush tank.
 4. The dispenser in claim #1 is integrated with a variable and moveable pressure lever.
 5. The pressure lever in claim #4 has affixed body attached through a pin to the dispenser of claim #1 and a linear slot along a portion of its length.
 6. The pressure lever in claim #6 has a linear adjustable portion which can be extended and locked by mean of a hand screw.
 7. The pressure lever in claim #6 has a radially adjustable arm which can be radially adjusted and locked by mean of a hand screw.
 8. The pressure lever in claim #7 has a rubber grip on one end in order to provide “no slip” under the toilet flush tank lever.
 9. The pressure lever in claim #5 holds pressure boot in its slot which can be adjusted linearly along the slot and also can be moved vertically by means of a hand screw and can be locked in a desired position by mean of a lock screw.
 10. The pressure boot in claim #9 has a floating rubber boot which sits securely on the tab of nozzle of the deodorant spray can which is placed inside the dispenser in claim #1.
 11. The dispenser in claim #1 is integrated with a latch mechanism which act as a receiving portion of the complete latch and is provided with a press release button
 12. The dispenser in claim #1 is integrated with a bottom loading door mechanism hinged on one side of the dispenser casing.
 13. The bottom door in claim #12 is provided with a latch-catch and an adjustable plate with padding which can be raised up and down by the mean of a hand screw.
 14. The dispenser in claim #1 is integrated with a vertical plate attached to a side of the dispenser by mean of a hand screw. 